Investigators named several family members in the case after the woman was shot to death inside Wah Cantt’s home.
A married woman was shot dead at her father’s house in Rawalpindi on Friday in what police described as an honor killing allegedly orchestrated by her husband and uncle through phone and video calls from Qatar.
Samira Aziz, who lived in Qatar with her husband, was taken to Pakistan a week earlier by two uncles on what her sister later alleged was a pretext. On the night of the incident, relatives arrived at the family home in the Lalazar area of Wah Cantt and, following instructions given via video call from Qatar, allegedly shot him several times.
According to the first report filed by sub-inspector Asif Iqbal Khan, the attackers, identified as Waleed and Asrar, close relatives of Aziz’s father, entered the house after his aunt was instructed over phone to open the door. The FIR claims that Aziz’s husband Suleman then made a video call and ordered the aunt to take Aziz’s sister out of the room and “let them finish off Samira”.
The two men allegedly pulled out guns and opened fire, hitting Aziz in several parts of his body. She died at the scene.
The motive, as cited in the police report, arose from the suspicions of Aziz’s husband, who had allegedly found her talking on the phone with another man while in Qatar.
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Aziz’s sister Sana Khan, who was present during the attack, provided a detailed statement to the police. He said that earlier that night several male relatives, including his father, Aziz Muhammad, and the two uncles who had accompanied Aziz from Qatar, had gathered at the house before leaving. The women were alone when the attackers arrived.
Rawalpindi City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani has taken notice of the case and police have filed charges of murder, honor killing and abetment. The case has been presented on behalf of the State.
Aziz’s uncle, Imtiaz, and her husband, Suleman, remain in Qatar. Police are conducting raids to arrest Waleed, Asrar and Sabir, who was reportedly guarding the gate during the incident. Authorities said arrests are expected soon.
The case has drawn parallels with recent incidents of honor killings in the region, including the Perodhay jirga murder case, and indicates that such crimes continue to occur in Pakistan despite existing legal prohibitions.
